FASHION Fall Fashion at Bigley Shoes and Clothing

from Fall 2021 | Invest In Style Magazine

by Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage

Introducing TD Insurance Private Client Advice

Fall Fashion

at Bigley Shoes and Clothing

BY ANNA CIPOLLONE PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BIGLEY SHOES & CLOTHING

In the heart of Bobcaygeon, a century-old business features luxury outerwear and an impressive selection of shoes, boots and accessories for every season. It’s become a destination in itself.

Bigley Shoes and Clothing has been a family-run business since 1911. They feature one of the largest selections of shoes in Eastern Ontario for adults and children.

What began as a shoe store and harness repair shop in 1911, opened by Charles Bigley and today owned and operated by the Peel family, is now a tourist attraction with some of the best brands in shoes and clothing, housed in a charming, historic building on the main strip in Bobcaygeon. Its purpose is to serve as a community hub for shopping and private events, while offering superb customer service for those in search of the perfect-fitting shoe that is both supportive and stylish. “My father-in-law and I were a team, and his motto was good, better, best,” says owner Sherry Peel.

At Bigley’s you will find hundreds of brand names in clothing & footwear for both men and women including bathing suits, jewellery and accessories. There is also a kitchen store with a coffee bar for visitors to enjoy.

“Through the years, the market moved it more to better, best–our customers wanted more quality, and a lot of doctors refer patients to us that need shoes that accommodate orthotics, fit well and are comfortable.” And for their unique clothing selections, she credits her daughter-in-law for keeping on the fashion pulse and handling all the buying.

In recent years, the business has flourished, expanding its inventory of shoes and adding luxury outerwear, on-trend clothing and a kitchen store with coffee bar, buying up buildings to grow the original flagship. Customers can browse from shop to shop without ever leaving the building. Bigley Shoes and Clothing attracts generations of families and groups of friends visiting the Kawarthas and has become a tourist attraction in itself.

“It was about us trying to build something for the village and it became a destination,” says Peel. “It’s created a social environment.” They’ve hosted day trips and private shopping events–like bachelorette parties where a group can shop all day and then stay for a dinner hosted by the store. And while groups travel from all over Ontario, the locals remain an integral part of the business, particularly during the holidays when families will visit from the city and spend the day strolling the Bobcaygeon strip with the final destination of everyone shopping together at Bigley. >>

Bigley’s rich, 110-year history has seen the store evolve and shift into a fashion mecca for the north. But what has remained a constant is Bigley’s passion for fitting the entire family with high quality footwear and serving its loyal customers, from spring to winter, every year (they’re open 360 days a year).

Along with apparel, water toys, kids’ toys and crafts, and its very own Bigley’s Sweet Treats that carries none other than Kawartha Dairy Ice Cream, the whole family can indulge at this must-visit boutique. Between cottage country season, and the locals who frequent the shop all year round, Bigley offers a great selection of fall fashion. With autumn tones of forest green, orange, reds and neutrals, check out the apparel, shoes and accessories featured at Bigley this fall season.